Re: Deep Finesse gets this right

On Apr 24, 3:43=A0am, Steve Willner <swill...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>
> Deep Finesse says the double-dummy result is 8 tricks. =A0As far as I
can
> tell, the defense achieves this only by switching to hearts before
> playing the third round of diamonds.

++++Or indeed the second round of Diamonds. Or the first round of
Diamonds.
>
> Q2. Can defenders beat the contract without a peek? =A0How? =A0Assign
the
> blame, if you will.

++++Whilst I wouldn't claim that a Heart switch was automatic, I'm not
sure that cra****ng down three rounds of a suit, all but setting up a
dummy with at least two entries staring you in the face, is exactly
"optimum" defence...The bidding more or less precludes any hand on
which this can work [I know that's curt and dismissive but I am pushed
for time. I'll leave Eric to work out fifteen different hands on which
this defence will fail].